^DH and I were just in our car. We were riding around as usual, seeing the Christmas lights, and just as I was going to drop him and Gus off, ( I drop them off in a different place every day to give them variety for their last walk every day) Tom expressed your thoughts exactly. I actually asked him to stop while I got out my phone to find your post. He says he has always felt this way, it’s not just his “old man“ thoughts.
I don’t really have these feelings, but I appreciate what you are saying. When I read your post this morning, I immediately thought of my amaryllises, (I have at least 8 large bulbs and many baby ones) and at least one will probably be sending up a beautiful bud stem soon. My amaryllises are probably 10 years old or older, and I try to have the bud stem come up in January. I thought of my orchids which have been opening a new bud every week and have many buds yet to open. I know soon I will be thinking about my strawberries and asparagus and the flowers that could be sprouting in March, strawberries don’t ripen until June. I suppose I do these things to just bypass winter in my mind. It’s my least favorite of all seasons.